Starr strenuously denied he had ever abused an underage girl and said he had hired private investigators in an attempt to rebut the claim.

The comedian admitted that he was mistaken when he claimed last week that he had never met Ward. Footage emerged on Monday that showed him with Ward on Savile's Clunk Click TV show in 1974.

Asked about the retracted denial, Starr told ITV News: "What I said was 'I can't recall'. Forty years ago. I want to ask you something about a Christmas tree. What was on your tree ten years ago? You don't know do you? This is how quick the press jump on you."

Starr added that he cannot recall ever meeting Ward and said he would take all available evidence to the police station. "To be accused like this is devastating. I've got to fight back. I'm the only one in the ring at the moment and I've got people now helping me which I feel better for … We will get to the bottom of it. I will take this evidence down to the police station and show them. I want a police investigation. I want them to interview me."

The accusation was first made public last week after Starr failed in an attempt to secure a high court injunction to restrict media reporting of the claim.